What to expect

Sometimes, routine prenatal ultrasounds are anything but routine. If you or your doctor has a potential concern about your screening ultrasound results or any other prenatal testing, you may be referred to Midwest Fetal Care Center, a collaboration between Children’s Minnesota and Allina Health, for further evaluation.

You or your provider may call 855-693-3825 to make a referral. You will reach one of our care coordinators who will begin working with you and your provider to gather your medical information.

Once we receive the referral, we go to great lengths to ensure you and your baby receive the care and information you need to make the best decisions.

For patients coming from a far distance, our care team can help arrange accommodations to best suit your needs.

Initial visit

Your initial visit may involve a full day of diagnostic testing. You are encouraged to bring a friend and or family member with you. You will be seen by one of our maternal fetal medicine specialists who may also consult with other specialists as necessary, depending on your diagnosis.

After we complete the necessary diagnostic tests, our fetal care team will take the time necessary to explain the diagnosis and all the treatment options available. We will work with you and your referring provider to develop a comprehensive care and delivery plan. We will fully prepare you for what to expect for you and your baby.

The evaluation process

To accurately diagnosis and treat your baby our team may perform a number of special tests, including:

High resolution fetal ultrasound

Fetal echocardiography to examine the structure and function of your baby’s heart

Ultrafast fetal MRI

Diagnostic and therapeutic fetoscopy

Amniocentesis

Chorionic villus sampling

Fetal blood sampling

Microarray analysis

Determining next steps

Most conditions are best treated after the baby is born. But in some circumstances, fetal invention or fetal surgery may be considered for life-threatening conditions. It is our goal to provide you and your family with the information you need to make an informed decision about your next steps and treatment.

At Midwest Fetal Care Center, you will receive the best care possible from our specialists in maternal and fetal medicine as well as specialists in newborn and pediatric care, including neonatologists. Our team of doctors, nurses, ultrasonographers, genetic counselors and social workers work together to coordinate all aspects of your care from diagnosis to postoperative recovery and long-term follow-up.

Preparing for the NICU

If your care plan includes fetal intervention during your pregnancy or treatment after baby is born, you may anticipate a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or one of the other newborn care units at Children’s Minnesota Minneapolis hospital. Our neonatology program cares for more babies than any other program in the Upper Midwest, and has some of the highest survival rates and lowest complication rates in the world. And Children’s Minnesota neonatal intensive care and special care nurseries are conveniently connected to Midwest Fetal Care Center and The Mother Baby Center.

Watch the video below to tour the neonatal care areas at Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis, which are designed to provide the highest level of medical care available with comfortable, patient-and-family-centered surroundings.

Next, learn more about the highly trained and experienced clinicians who make up our fetal medicine team.